La Torretta dei Merli – your private views over Vernazza
Vernazza · Cinque Terre · Studio with terrace
La Torretta dei Merli
A front-row terrace over the heart of Vernazza
Piazza Marconi, the harbour, the coastline all the way to Monterosso — watched from your own terrace, and from a bed set inside a little tower. Air conditioned, sleeps up to 4.
Check dates & book directBest rate guaranteed · No third-party fees · Local concierge included
The story
The little tower of the battlements
Its name comes from its silhouette: merli — the merlons and crenellations of a medieval battlement — crown this little tower rising above the rooftops in the very centre of Vernazza. And it has a curious kinship: along an imaginary line across the bay stands La Torre dei Merli in Monterosso, its bigger sibling — two battlemented landmarks watching each other across two of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Inside, the tower does something few places can offer: the double bed sits in the tower itself, raised on its platform and surrounded by windows, with the sea and the bell tower of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia framed like paintings. Guests describe waking up here as simply magical — and the bell, chiming its centuries-old rhythm over the village, as part of the charm.
Fully renovated in 2017 and air conditioned, the studio is exclusively managed by Cinque Terre Riviera, the local tour operator based in Vernazza since 1991. Booking direct means the best available rate, no third-party fees and our concierge office a few steps away on Via Roma.
The terrace
A front-row seat over Vernazza
This is what guests remember: your own private terrace, shaded by its sun tent, hanging over the life of the village. Below, Piazza Marconi and its cafés; ahead, the boats gliding in and out of the little harbour; and on the horizon, the coastline stretching past Monterosso to the Mesco Promontory.
Breakfast as the village wakes up, an aperitivo as the sunset turns the houses gold, dinner with the murmur of the piazza below — recent guests rated the views "even more spectacular than the photos", and couples give this location full marks.
The spaces
A clever studio on two levels, for up to 4
The tower bedroom
The double bed sits raised inside the tower, surrounded by windows: the sea on one side, the bell tower of Santa Margherita on the other, and a natural cross-breeze on summer nights. A safety gate on the indoor steps adds peace of mind.
Living area with two single beds
A bright open space where two single beds nestle under the sloping ceiling, with a window framing Vernazza's quaint back lanes — kids love it, and it makes the studio a genuine (and rare) option for families of four in the heart of the village.
Kitchen & bathroom
A fully equipped kitchen — dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, Nespresso — opening straight onto the terrace, and a simple, functional bathroom with shower, bidet and hairdryer. Air conditioning and free WiFi throughout.
An honest word
The stairs are real — and so is the reward
Let us be straightforward: reaching La Torretta means climbing a steep staircase of over a hundred steps — there is no lift, and there never will be in a village like Vernazza. The bathroom is compact, the layout is a studio (the two single beds share the living space), and the bell tower of Santa Margherita chimes its centuries-old rhythm from 7 am to 10 pm — most guests find it enchanting, but the lightest of sleepers should know.
As one recent guest put it: "Lots of stairs, but the views are worth it." If steps are a concern, ask us — porterage can be arranged on arrival, and we manage plenty of Vernazza homes with easier access. For everyone else: the terrace is waiting.
Good to know
Practical information
Arriving by car
We strongly recommend travelling by train. If you arrive by car, use the public car park above Vernazza (around 1,200 m from the pedestrian area): a shuttle runs to the village entrance, then it is about a 5-minute walk to our concierge office. Advance booking of the car park is strongly recommended (approximate cost: €20/day) — full details are provided after booking confirmation.
Check-in times and evening arrivals
Standard check-in runs from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm with on-site assistance from our team. From 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, independent self check-in is available with full instructions sent in advance by email (telephone assistance in this slot, where instructions have already been received and confirmed, carries a €50 supplement). After 10:00 pm, no check-in is possible — we strongly advise against late-evening arrivals.
Small dogs welcome
Small dogs are welcome with a supplement per stay — select the pet option when booking. House rules: dogs on a lead in all common areas including the stairs, no access to beds or sofas, and owners are responsible for their pet's behaviour and for respecting other guests.
Booking direct includes
Looked after by locals, since 1991
— A complimentary welcome breakfast for your first morning in Vernazza
— Quality amenities: local extra virgin olive oil, salt, sugar and compostable Nespresso capsules
— Professional cleaning, with the studio always spotless and sanitised
— Eco-friendly practices and a genuine commitment to sustainability
— Our concierge office on Via Roma, a few steps from the station, for anything you need during your stay
Sunset from your own terrace over Vernazza
A bed in a tower, a terrace over the piazza, air conditioning and space for four — one of Vernazza's most special little homes.
Check dates & book directCinque Terre Riviera · Via Roma 24, Vernazza · concierge@cinqueterreriviera.com · +39 351 785 8879
